Fireworks, Protests, Record Travel Shape July Fourth

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Fireworks, Protests, Record Travel Shape July Fourth/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Americans prepare for July Fourth celebrations, with events ranging from traditional festivities to protests against Trump’s policies. Fireworks retailers face tariff concerns, while holiday travel is projected to break records. Some California communities cancel celebrations amid immigration fears.

Fireworks light up the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in St. Louis. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Quick Look – July Fourth Highlights

Many celebrate traditionally, despite political polarization and lower patriotic sentiment
Women’s March, others organize protests against Trump’s policies nationwide
Tariffs on Chinese fireworks paused, but industry worries about 2026 costs
Los Angeles-area cities cancel events amid immigration enforcement concerns
AAA forecasts record-breaking travel: 72 million Americans on the move
Air travel set for busiest Fourth in 15 years

How Americans Are Celebrating, Protesting and Traveling This July Fourth

Deep Look

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wave of shifting national sentiment is influencing how Americans approach this Independence Day, with some feeling less patriotic in the Trump era — especially among Democrats — and even questioning whether to celebrate at all.

But not Scott Allen, a registered Democrat from Southern California. He’s keeping up his traditions, planning to mark the nation’s 249th birthday with neighbors of diverse political views, enjoying a barbecue and fireworks display.

Allen, 60, says he’ll be thinking of his father, a U.S. Marine, and feels proud of the freedoms Americans enjoy.

“We can have protests. We can have free speech,” Allen said from Lakewood, just south of Los Angeles.

This year’s Fourth of July promises to feel different for many. Across the country, protests are planned against President Donald Trump’s policies, while in Southern California, immigration raids have shaken communities, prompting some celebrations to be canceled. Meanwhile, fireworks retailers are grappling with tariffs, even as travel is set to break records.

Here’s a look at how July Fourth is unfolding this year:

Celebrations Canceled in California

Several communities in the Los Angeles area have called off Independence Day festivities due to safety concerns stemming from Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.

Federal raids have sparked protests around the city, and Trump has sent in National Guard troops and Marines.

In El Sereno, a neighborhood in East Los Angeles, organizers canceled their annual parade after 90% of participants withdrew.

“The fact that they’re taking anyone that is brown, regardless of citizenship, that puts everyone in jeopardy,” said parade organizer Genny Guerrero, noting the area’s majority-Latino, deeply patriotic population.

Elsewhere, a downtown L.A. block party that drew 20,000 people last year was postponed, and cities like Bell Gardens in southeastern Los Angeles canceled festivities altogether.

Independence Day Protests Planned

Not everyone will spend the day grilling and lighting sparklers.

Women’s March, the group behind the massive Washington protest the day after Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, is organizing events nationwide to protest Trump’s policies, including deep cuts to Medicaid.

“We’re inviting folks to envision what a truly free America looks like,” said Tamika Middleton, managing director of Women’s March.

Planned events range from small potlucks to larger rallies, including one outside Houston’s City Hall. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, activists will gather at a naturalization ceremony to show support for new U.S. citizens.

Tariffs Cloud Fireworks Industry

Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, said most fireworks used in the U.S. are made in China.

Amid escalating trade tensions, tariffs on Chinese-made fireworks surged to 145% in April. However, Trump issued a 90-day pause in May, reducing tariffs to the current 30%.

While large municipal shows won’t be affected this year — since fireworks were purchased months ago — Heckman said many retail sellers are absorbing the extra costs rather than passing them on to customers.

But the industry is worried about 2026, America’s 250th birthday.

“Every small town in America is going to want a special firework display to honor America’s 250th,” Heckman said.

Holiday Travel Expected to Break Records

Travelers are hitting the road — and skies — in historic numbers this holiday.

AAA predicts more than 72 million people will journey at least 50 miles from home, with the forecast covering two weekends to capture extended holiday travel.

About 62 million people will drive — a 2.2% increase over last year and the highest number ever recorded for the Fourth of July, AAA reports. Despite some price hikes, gas remains cheaper than in recent years.

Nearly six million travelers are expected to fly, up 4% from last year. The Federal Aviation Administration says this will be the busiest July Fourth travel week in 15 years.

From festive barbecues to protests in the streets, this Independence Day reflects a nation wrestling with change — but still eager to celebrate the freedoms it holds dear.